Bombers make it out of Ticats game unscathed

Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Buck Pierce celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats during the second half of their CFL football game in Winnipeg, September 21, 2012. (REUTERS/Fred Greenslade)

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KIRK PENTON, QMI Agency

Sep 22, 2012

, Last Updated: 8:10 PM ET

WINNIPEG - Not only did the Bombers snap a four-game losing streak on Friday night against the Tiger-Cats, but they made it out of the game relatively unscathed.

Left tackle Glenn January suffered a hand injury in Winnipeg’s 34-12 victory that might force him to miss the first day of practice next week, and running back Chad Simpson, who’s been dealing with a chronic foot problem, will probably sit down on Day 1 as well. Neither, however, is expected to miss a game.

Right tackle Jordan Taormina, who has missed the last two weeks with a neck injury, is healthy enough to practise but won’t necessarily be back in the lineup when the Bombers (3-9) host the Toronto Argonauts next Saturday night at Canad Inns Stadium.

“It just depends how well he practices during the week and all that,” head coach Tim Burke said Saturday afternoon. “Shannon Boatman’s played a really good game, so we’re happy with him, too.”

The Bombers remain dead last in the CFL and are four points out of a playoff spot with six games to go. Burke isn’t projecting how many wins it will take to get into the playoffs, but he wants his players to know there’s still a chance.

“I did tell the guys in the meeting today we have our fate in our own hands,” Burke said. “We play one Western opponent and everybody else is an Eastern opponent. We can be the masters of our own fate.”

Burke was cryptic when asked if more players would be joining Winnipeg’s practice roster this week. He said there won’t be any new players on Tuesday, but that made it sound like there might be additions later in the week.

“I don’t want to get into it until we have them here,” Burke said as the team’s director of communications, Darren Cameron, shook his head in the background. “Several of them are still waiting to see if the NFL is going to come back on them and all that, so we’ll wait and see how that goes.”

CFL teams are able to expand their practice rosters from seven to 12 players on Oct. 3. The Bombers currently have six players on their practice roster.